A Inquiry-Based Pedagogy and Supporting Tool to Improve Student Learning of Software Testing Concepts

该项目旨在通过改善本科生对软件测试概念的学习来服务于国家利益。软件测试是计算机专业学生成为成功的软件设计师必须具备的一项关键技能。经过良好测试的软件具有更高的质量，更易于使用。这个项目旨在改善软件测试的教学，使用一种使学生能够构建和重构自己的知识的方法。该工具不只是向学生提供关于测试错误的反馈，它将使用基于探究的方法来指导学生学习。预计这种方法将帮助学生学习关于测试的基本概念，使他们能够将他们的知识转移到未来的软件开发活动中，包括在他们的职业生涯中。该项目的总体目标包括：增加本科生在软件测试方面的学习；提高计算机专业学生的总体编程技能；为教师提供一种很好地融入现有课堂结构的方法。为了实现上述目标，该项目将开发一个在线工具，软件测试导师，以及教学方法，以增加学生对软件测试的学习。该工具将分析学生的解决方案，以确定学生需要更多练习的基本概念。然后，它将为学生提供建议，帮助他们启动自己对这些概念的学习过程。软件测试导师将提供两种交互模式：学习模式和开发模式。在学习模式中，它将指导学生如何为参考程序实施开发一套完整的测试套件。在开发模式中，它将帮助学生为新编写的代码开发完整的测试套件。软件测试导师将使用教师测试用例的组合，其中注解了程序的用例和参考实现所实践的基本概念。教师可以从存储库项目开发的用例中选择要在课程中实现的资源，或者开发他们自己的带注释的测试用例。该项目将利用对学生和教职员工的调查和访谈来研究学生学习的改进，探索最适合不同班级的支架式教学，并研究如何将教学法融入现有课程。该项目的预期贡献包括：(1)增加学生对软件测试的学习；(2)提高学生的编程技能；(3)增加学生对测试导师教学法中以探究为基础的学习的参与度；以及(4)使用软件测试导师对学生和教师的积极体验。该项目得到了NSF改善本科生STEM教育：教育和人力资源计划的支持，该计划支持研究和开发项目，以提高所有学生的STEM教育的有效性。通过参与的学生学习路径，该计划支持有前景的实践和工具的创建、探索和实施。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project aims to serve the national interest by improving undergraduate learning of software testing concepts. Software testing is a critical skill that computer science students must acquire to be successful software designers. Well-tested software has higher quality and is easier to use. This project aims to improve teaching of software testing, using an approach that enables students to construct and reconstruct their own knowledge. Rather than just providing students with feedback about testing errors, the tool will use an inquiry-based approach to guide student learning. It is expected that this approach will help students learn fundamental concepts about testing in a way that enables them to transfer their knowledge to future software development activities, including in their professional careers. The overall goals of the project include to: increase undergraduate computer science student learning regarding software testing; improve the overall programming skills of computer science students; and provide instructors with an approach that integrates well into existing classroom structures. To address the goals stated above, the project will develop an online tool, the Software Testing Tutor, as well as pedagogy to increase student learning about software testing. The tool will analyze student solutions to identify the underlying concepts with which a student needs more practice. It will then provide students with suggestions to help them initiate their own learning process about those concepts. The Software Testing Tutor will provide two interaction modes: Learning Mode and Development Mode. In Learning Mode, it will coach a student on how to develop a complete test suite for a reference program implementation. In Development Mode, it will help a student develop a complete test suite for newly written code. The Software Testing Tutor will use a combination of instructor test cases annotated with the fundamental concepts exercised by the case and reference implementations of the programs. Instructors can select resources to implement in their course from the repository project-developed cases or develop their own annotated test cases. The project will use surveys and interviews of students and faculty to study improvements in student learning, explore the most appropriate scaffolding for different class levels, and study how to integrate the pedagogy into existing curricula. The expected contributions of this project include: (1) an increase in student learning about software testing; (2) improved student programming skills; (3) increased student engagement with the inquiry-based learning embedded in the Testing Tutor pedagogy; and (4) positive student and instructor experiences using Software Testing Tutor. This project is supported by the NSF Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Education and Human Resources Program, which supports research and development projects to improve the effectiveness of STEM education for all students. Through the Engaged Student Learning track, the program supports the creation, exploration, and implementation of promising practices and tools.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.